Signal lamp



Nov. 12, 1940. J. D. KENNELLY S IGNAL LAMP Filed May 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N0 12 1940-` J. D. KENNELLY 2,221,483

S IGNAL LAMP Filed May 1, 1937 5 sheets-sheet 2 A ""`muweawmxv^ u Huuun Uma . N www g Nov. 12, 1940. J, D. KENNELLY S IGNAL LAMP Filed May 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NU 12 1940 J. D. KENNELLY 2.221.483

SIGNAL LAMP Filed May 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 1.2, 1940 4UNITED STATI-:s .PATENT VOFFICE Jeremiah D. Kennelly, Oak Park, Ill. Application' May 1, 1937, serial No. 140,241

3 Claims.

This invention' relates to a signal lamp, and more particularly to a signal lamp of the oscillating type which is suitable for use at railway `and highway crossings to give warning of appreaching and passing trains and for use on train cars, emergency vehicles, etc.

Anobject of the invention is `to provide improved means for oscillating` the beams of light so that a. more conspicuous warning signal is given to the motorist approaching a railway crossing, such, improved signal device being also useful upon the rear of a train, bus, car, emergency vehicle, etc.

Another object is to provide a lamp structure adapted to project beams of light down a. highway in both directions from a railway crossing, the beams being oscillated in both vertical and horizontal planes. A further object is to provide light-projecting mechanism which is adapted to oscillate beams oi' light in more` than one direction, and which is encased in a stationary frame structure adapted to be fixedly mounted in the angular space between the railway and the highway.

Still another object is to provide a signal lamp which is effective to give more vivid warning of a train which is passing at the crossing, and which illuminates the side of the passing train by a beam of light moving horizontally and vertically.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a. side view in elevatin of the lamp fully assembled and mounted for use; Fig. 2, an en'd view in elevation ofthe lamp as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail plan View of the supporting bracket, the view being taken as indicated at line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 4--4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an elevational sectional view taken as indicated at line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, an elevational sectional view of the drive gearing, the section being taken as indicated at line 6-6 `of Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a detail sectional view taken as indicated `at line 1-1of,Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a. sectional view taken as indicated at line 8--8 of Fig.` 4; Fig. 9, a detail view showing the crank arrangement here employed;liig. 10, a detail view taken as indicated at line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9; and Fig. l1, a detail sectional view taken as indicated at line II of Fig. 9.

1 Mounted within the frame or casing A are the carrying rings B and B which are pivoted at top and bottom, and mounted within rings'B and B' are the light-projecting devices C and C', re-

spectively, which are pivoted at` each side. A motor D drives gearing E which actuates crank means F adapted to oscillate the carrying members B and B' about their vertical axes, and also actuates crank means G adapted to cscillate the 5 devices C and C' about their horizontal axes.

The frame or casing A may be of any suitable construction, and may be cast of suitable material in the desired form. It provides two openings IIJ and II facing different directions. Pref- 10 erably the casing is so formed that light emerging squarely from these openings is projected at a wide diverging angle. The lamp is intended to be placed at the side of the highway, and the angle is necessary to allow the light beams to be projected across the highway.

At its bottom, casing A is provided with a short hollow standard 2 Ia and flange 2 I, and is mounted in fixed position adjacent the railway crossing by bolting iiange 2| to a ilange 22 of the hollow bracket 23 which may extend from any fixed object. As shown by Fig. 3, flanges 2| and 22 may be secured by bolts 24 extending through them. The holes 25 in ange 22'may be arcuate to allow angular adjustment of the casing upon the bracket. Other means of supporting the frame may be employed as maybe desired.

Fitted Within opening I0 is a sleeve member 3| secured by means of lugs 32 and 33 and bolts 34, which meansserves to draw the sleeve against washer for forming a tight joint. A door I2 is attached to sleeve 3| on one side by the hinge I3 and is arranged to swing about hinge I3 to allow access to the casing through the sleeve member 3|. The door I2 is provided with the glass lens I4 which is securely fastened within the door, the edge of the lens being enclosed in a lens gasket I5, which may be made of rubber or other resilient material. 'I'he frame of door I2 is com-posed of an outer rim I6 and ring I8. In the assembly of the door, lens I4 may be inserted into the inner circular socket of the lens gasket and ring I8 inserted within the outer socket. 'I'he outer rim I6 and ring I8 are then drawn together by small screws to securely bind 15 the lens and the lens gasket. This structure provides a. very firm joint which is water-tight and which at the same time imposes no strain on the lens.

Attached on the side of door I2 opposite hinge I3 is a latch or lock 20 for holding the door closed; a lock such as shown in Fig. 2, by which the door is locked to the main body of the casing, is preferable in order to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining entrance to the lamp. It

fitted within opening Il, and is secured in the same manner. The door 31, closing the outer end of sleeve 36, is preferably identical to door I2. The lens |4a may be of a diiferent color from lens I4, if so desired.

Casing A houses within it the light-projecting devices and also the means by which these devices are oscillated. On the sides of the casing are manholes 95 and 96 having covers 91 and 98, respectively, which are secured by suitable bolts and gaskets. These manholes are provided to allow access to the casing for repair or adjustment ofthe oscillating mechanism. l

`'I'he carrying member B comprises an annular ring which is equipped with pivot pins 216 and 21 at its top and -bottom respectively. As shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 8, this ring is mounted in casing A adjacent opening I0, and has its pins 26 and 21 received within the hollow bosses 28 and 29, respectively, which protrude inwardly from the top and bottom of sleeve 3|. Member B is equipped also with a laterally projecting arm 30 which provides at its end portion a socket 30a adapted to receive the ball |0| of the connecting arm |00. It is readily seen that upon oscillating movement of connecting arm |00, the member B will be lcaused to oscillate angularly about an axis through pins 26 and 21.

Adjacent the opening |I, the carrying member `B is similarly mounted as is member B. Member B has pins |33 and I 34 which are received within bosses |35 and |36, and is equipped with laterally extending arm |31 providing socket |38 for receiving the ball 39 of connecting arm 40.

The light-projecting device C comprises a reflector 4| equipped with a suitable electric bulb 42 and electrically connected with a source of E. M. F. for projecting a beam of light. A reinforcing rim 43 encircles the edge of reector 4| and is equipped at its sides with pivot pins 44 and 45, the ends of which are received in suitable holes 46 and 41 in the sides of member B. At its top, device C is provided with an extension 48 provided with a socket 49 which is adapted to receive the ball 50 of connecting arm 5 I. It is readily seen `that upon oscillating movement of connecting arm 5|, light-projecting device C will be caused to oscillate angularly about an axis through pins 44 and 45.

The light-projecting device C is similarly mounted as is device C. It has pivot pins 52 and 53 which are received Within holes 54 and 55 in member B. It is provided with an extension 56 provided with a socket 51 which is adapted to receive the ball 58 of connecting arm 59.

It will be observed that members B and B are each adapted to move about a vertical axis, and that light-projecting devices C and C are each adapted to move about a horizontal axis.

'I'he power means D'for driving the oscillating mechanism comprises an electric motor ofany suitable type. As here shown the motor is equipped with a Ventilating casing 60 having inlet openings 6| and outlet openings 62 and inside of which is a cooling fan 63. The motor casing 64 has a ange 65 by which the motor is` secured to the gear casing 66. Asshown more clearly in Fig. 6, the gear casing 66 has laterally extending flanges 66m which rest on bosses 61 ofthe casing A. Bolts 68 extending through anges 66B and into bosses 61 secure the gear casing 66 and the motor D to the frame structure.

The drive shaft 69 of motor D extends intogear casing 66 and is provided with a worm screw 10 engaging b'oth of worm gears 1| and 12. Worm 5 gear 1| is secured to a shaft 13 which is jour-` naled in mounting 14 by bearings 15. The upper end of shaft 13 extends through opening 16 in the gear casing and is fixedly secured to the crank wheel 11. Worm gear 12, which may be larger l and have a greater number of teeth than does gear 1|, is xedly secured to one end of shaft 18 which is journaled in mounting 19 by bearings 80. The lower end of shaft 18 extends through opening 8| in the gear casing and is fixedly secured to 1 the crank wheel 82.

The construction of crank wheels 11 and 82 is .clearly indicated in Figs. 9 to 11 of the drawings.

As illustrated, the wheel 82 has a diametrical groove 83, and in this groove is a slidable piece 84 20 nectingl arms 5| and 59 pivotally secured to it 30 through the joints 90 which are adapted to allow the arms to move also to positions inclined with the pin. The lower crank pin 85 has the ends of connecting arms |00 and 40 pivotally secured to it through joints of the type just described. 3-

l Joints comprise the inner bushings 9| and the outer bushings 92 which are spaced by balls 93 between the bushings. It will be seen that as the light-projecting device C tilts upon its horizontal axis, the outer end of arm 5| must move 40 downwardly, causing the arm to assume a position inclined with the axis of pin 85. Joints 90 are adapted to allow this type of motion without binding.

Each of connecting arms 5|, 59, |00 and 40 are 45 constructed of two pieces which are slidable with respect to each other and are secured together by such as bolts 94. Thus, the length of each of arms 5|, 59, |00 and 40 is made adjustable for the purpose of regulating the limits of the 50 angular oscillating movement of the light-projecting devices about their axes.

Operation After being suitably mounted at the side of the 55 highway and adjacent a railway crossing and electrically connected so as to be energized upon the approach of a train, the improved lamp gives warning to motorists in the following manner:

'I'he bulbs of the light-projecting devices be- 60 come energized and emit beams of light. Light may be projected by device C' down the highway in advance of the crossing, and light may be projected by device C toward and across the railway to give warning to the motorists approaching 65 the crossing from the farther side.

At the same time, motor D becomes 'energized and through its shaft and worm screw 10 turns bpth of gears 1| and 12. Rotary motion of gear 12 is transmitted through shaft 18 to crank wheel 70 82, which through pin 85 serves to give a reciprocating motion to connecting arms |00 and 40. 'I'he reciprocating motion of arms |00 and 40,

as before explained serves to oscillate the members B and B about their vertical axes. Such 75 oscillation of members B and B causes the oscillation of the light-projecting devices C and C' about these same vertical axes also, for these devices are carried by the carrying members B and B.

Rotary motion oi worm gear 1| is transmitted through shaft 'i3 to crank wheel 11, which through pin 89 serves to give a reciprocating motion to connecting arms 5| and 59. The reciprocating motion of arms 5i and 59, as before explained, serves to oscillate the devices C andC' about horizontal axes. Thus, operation of motor D serves to impart both vertical and horizontal oscillating movements simultaneously to each of the light-projecting devices C and C.

The number of teeth on worm gear 1I may bear lany desired relation to the number of teeth on worm gear l2, and different effects voi' light movement may be produced. For example, there may be the same number of teeth on gear 'Il as on gear l2, in which case the beam of light projected might appear on a wall to traverse a substantially circular path; or, there may be twice as many teeth on gear 'i2 as on gear 1l, in which case the path of the light might appear substantially as a figure 8; or other different effects may be produced by changing the gearing ratio just referred to.

One beam of light will sweep across the highway in advance of the railway, and this beam will also move up and down; and another beam of light will sweep across the highway at and beyond the crossing, and this beam of light also will move up and down. It is seen that before the train reaches the crossing, the motorists approaching the crossing from each side are warned by a light moving in all directions and covering the whole highway in its scope. When the train is passing at the crossing, one beam of light is sweeping the highway in advance of the crossing and the other one is illuminating an area on the side of the train. The moving lighted area serves as an additional Warning to the motorist approaching in advance of the crossing.

It may be noted also, that as light-projecting device B is being tilted so as to direct a beam of light nearer the surface of the highway, lightprojecting device B is being tilted upwardly so as to direct its b eam of light farther skyward. This opposite tilting movement of the two lightprojecting devices is alsonoted in connection with the oscillating movement about the vertical axes. From this it is seen that the illuminating beam is directly in front of the motorist at an instant when Athe light beam directed toward him is not in his eyes to blind his sight. With this arrangement, at one instant a bright piercing light flashes into the motorists eyes, and at the next instant this disappears and the passing train appears illuminated by'a moving beam of light.

The signal device is particularly effective on the rear of a railroad train, bus, emergency car, or` other vehicle.

The amplitude of oscillating movement in either vertical or horizontal direction may be changed by altering the position of the crank pins. For example, if it is desired to cause -the light beams to move at greater horizontal amplitude, it is necessary only to loosen set screw 89 and move sliding piece 84 to push pin 85 farther from the center of the crank wheel 82. The amplitude of movement in a vertical plane may be increased ksimilarly by moving sliding piece 88 in crank wheel 11 to push its pin farther from the center of this wheel.

'Ihough in the foregoing description I have set out a. very specific structure, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. In a signal device of the character set forth for use with a highway and railway crossing, a frame, a plurality of light-projecting devices supported therein, said devices being so supported as to direct beams of light in two-directions, one of said beams extending across the railway crossing for illuminating railway cars thereon and the other of said beams extending along the highway away from said crossing, and oscillating means for causing said light beams to move back and forth across said highway and said railway crossing, said means being alsoeffective to cause said beams to oscillate in a vertical plane.

2. In a signal device ofthe character set forth for use with a highway and railway crossing, a frame, a light-projecting device supported in said frame and movable about an axis xed in said frame, said device being movable also about an axis angularly related with said axis and adapted to project light down the highway in advance of the crossing, a second light-projecting device supported in said frame and movable about an axis parallel with said first-mentioned axis, said second device being movable also about an axis parallel with said angularly related axis and adapted to project light toward the crossing to illuminate railway cars thereon, and oscillating means .for moving each of said devices about each of its axes, said means being eiective for moving both of said devices inthe same angular direction about atleast one pair of parallel axes. 3. In a signal device of the character set forth ,for use with a highway and railway crossing, a

frame, a plurality of light-projecting devices so arranged in said frame as to direct beams of light in two directions, one of said beams extending across the railway crossing for.v illuminating railway cars thereon and the other of said beams extending along the highway away from said crossing, means in said frame for mounting said light-projecting devices for rocking movement in a vertical plane and for oscillating movement in a substantially horizontal plane, means for rocking said light-projecting device to simultaneously cause one of said devices to rock upwardly and the other to rock downwardly, whereby when the first mentioned of said devices is rocked upwardly to illuminate the railway cars the other device is rocked downwardly to illuminate the highway adjacent the crossing and when the iirst mentioned device is rocked downwardly the second is rocked upwardly so that the beam extends along the highway in a path substantially parallel to the surface of the highway, and means for oscillating said light-projecting devices to move said beams of light in unison across said highway and said railway crossing.

JEREMIAH D, KENNEILY. 

